Albury will host Tim Fischer state funeral

A state funeral to honour Tim Fischer will be held in the NSW town of Albury next week.

The former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader died aged 73 at the Albury-Wodonga Cancer Centre on August 22, surrounded by close family members.

The government said his state funeral will be held at 1pm on Thursday at the Albury Entertainment Centre.

Members of the public are invited to attend and celebrate Mr Fischer's life.

The former politician led the National Party from 1990 to 1999.

He was crucial to delivering stricter gun control laws after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, especially as he knew it would be difficult for Nationals members and regional people to accept the change.

Former prime minister John Howard described Mr Fischer, with whom he formed a close governing partnership, as an authentic Australian with an endearing quirkiness.